Combination-lock.



No. 858.368. PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

Y J. N. MILLS.

COMBINATION LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1906.

lll H IIII H IIII u nnnn UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

COMBINATION-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed March 30,1906. Serial No. 808,918.

To all w/wm, zit may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES N. MILLS, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Oak Station, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to combination locks, and has for its objects, to provide an improved lock of this type of neat compact form having a large number of possible combinations; to provide a lock in which the combination may be easily and conveniently changed and in which the number of changes possible is comparatively large; to provide a lock having no exposed joints which it is necessary to unlock before it can be taken apart; to provide a lock which may be taken apart without tools after it has been unlocked, and to provide a very secure durable lock of inexpensive construction. One form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the assembled lock in unlocked position;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the lock on the line (2) (2) of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the lock With the parts in locked position and a part of the lock broken away to more clearly show the parts;

Figure 4 is a transverse section through one of the locking disks on the line (4) (4) of Fig ure 2 s Figure 5 is an end view of one of the locking disks, and

Figure 6 is a transverse section through one of the locking disks on the line (6) (6) of Figure 5.

As shownin the drawings, the part 7 is a longitudinally movable locking loop having pivoted to its end a partial loop'8. This part 8' may be swung laterally, as indicated in Figure 1, when the member 7 has been pulled out to its extreme limit. When in locked position the member 7 occupies the position indicated in Figure 3 and the part 8 abuts against the member 7 and fits inside of the look, as indicated in this figure, in which position the member 8 cannot, of course, move laterally. The longitudinal movement of the locking member 7 is controlled by the locking disks 9, 10 and 11. These disks are independently rotatable and are provided in regard to each other, and also with regard to the stationary index mark 12. The looking disks are mounted upon the sleeve 18,

which sleeve is integrally fixed with a locking block 14 at one end and screw threaded to a second locking block 15 at the other end. These locking blocks 14 and 15 serve to prevent longitudinal movement of the locking disks upon the sleeve 13. As indicated in Figure 2 the longitudinally movable locking member 7 fits inside of the sleeve 13 and is provided with a plurality of rows of holes 16 into which holes the pins 17 are adapted to fit. The sleeve 13 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal slots 13* in which the pins 17 are adapted to slide when such pins are not held in fixed position by the locking disks 9, 10 and 11. The locking disks, which are more clearly shown in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, are provided on their interior with circumferential slots 18 and longitudinal slots 19, into which the ends of the pins 17 are adapted to fit. One pin is intended to be governed by each of the disks and it will be seen that when all of such pins are in line'with. the slots 19 on the various disks that the member 7 may be moved endwise so that the part 8 is released from the recess 8 formed in the side of the central opening through the block 15 and may open laterally, as indicated in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, the member 7 is in raised or unlocked position and the pins 17 occupy the longitudinal slot 19, so that longitudinal motion of such part 7 is allowed. When in locked position the end of the memher 7 fits into the recess 20 in the block 14 and the pins 17 in such member 7 lie in the circumferential grooves 18 of the locking disk. When in this position the pins move freely in the slots 18 and the locking disks are capable of rotary motion to bring the longitudinal slots 19 to the proper position for permitting the longitudinal movement of the pins 17 therein, in which position the member 7 may be pulled out to unlocked position. As there is only one pin 17 for each locking disk and there are a plurality of holes 16 in the same plane, it will be apparent that a number of combinations for each locking disk may be obtained. It will be. seen that by this arrangement for changes of combination by each disk a large number of combinations may be secured. Furthermore, the locking block 15 may be removed by hand and the pins 17 changed Without difficulty to any desired combination. it will also be apparent that the locking block 15 cannot be unscrewed from the body of the lock when. the member 7 is in locked position. While in such position the member 15 cannot move longitudinally because it is in eiiigagement with the curve of the loop, and cannot turn because of the recess 8, in which the end of the part 8 fits. It will also be apparent that by having the part 7 and the end of the part 8 pass through the same opening in the member 15 a very cheap construction is provided. By providing a loop which is provided with a pivot at its center as at 21, a maximum amount of opening in such loop is obtained. As a consequence of this it results that the parts to be locked are being easily engaged by the loop which is a matter of considerable importance where it is necessary to apply a lock quickly.

The manner of operating will be obvious to those skilled in the art. The pins 17 are so arranged that when the proper/graduation on the locking disks 9, 10 and 11 are brought in line with each other and in line with the mark 12, such pins 17 will be in line with the longitudinal slots 19 in the locking disks and upon applying force to the part 7 such part will slide longitudinally, thereby permittmg the, loop member 8 to swing laterally, as indicated in Figure 1. In'order to lock the member 7 the loop is shown so that its end abuts a ainst the part 7 and the two are slid longitu inally and the disks 9, 10 and 11 are asses moved from their position. with their Ul]'ll')lnation marks in alinement.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the followin 1. .n combination, a pair of locking blocks, a set of independently rotatable locking disks interposed between the blocks and provided with circumferential and longitudinal slots, a longitudinally movable locking member having a loop adapted to be engaged by one otthe locking blocks and provided with a plurality of rows oi holding openings and a plurality of removable pins for the openings engaging the slots in the collars.

2. In combination, a sleeve having a plurality of longitudinal slots, lockin blocks secured to the ends thereof, a set 0 independently rotatable locking disks interposed between the blocks and rovided with circumferential and longitu inal slots, a locking member lon itudinally slidable in the sleeve and provide with a set of pins for extending through. the slots in the sleeve and engaging the circumferential slots in the locking disks, and means whereby the pins may be secured to the locking member in position to engage any one of the slots in the sleeve.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of thetwo subscribed Witnesses.

JAMES N. MILLS.

Witnesses:

J. C. BRADLEY, F. E. GAITHER. 

